We opted to take this cruise because we found a particularly attractive deal through an internet agency . We have previously enjoyed visiting the Caribbean twice before. However, we normally refrain from any form of package holiday, preferring to arrange everything ourselves. We value privacy and 'doing our own thing' so taking a cruise with 3000+ other souls represented a significant departure for us.

We were very impressed with the smooth arrangements from checking in at Gatwick to our arrival in our stateroom. This was very slick indeed. The flight was with Thomson and the crew worked very purposefully to ensure that we were comfortable, and they plied us with complimentary drinks.

The 4 sea days were probably our least enjoyable. The clamour and reservation of sunbeds, with extended periods of conspicuous non-occupancy, led to justifiable resentment. However, we are not as keen on sunbathing as many on board. The beds are often very close together, to the extent that navigating a clear passage to another area of the ship was often something of a challenge. We found many areas to be rather lively, and it wasn't easy to find somewhere quiet to read in relative peace. We were very glad to have a balcony, where we could read, play travel games etc - this was a major boon. Read more